Flush valve



April 16, 1963 H. l.. PHILIPPE 3,085,779

FLUSH VALVE Filed DSG. 23, 1960 3,085,779 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 3,085,779 FLUSH VALVE Howard L. Philippe, Chicago, lil., assignor to Imperial- Eastman Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 78,030 6 Claims. (Cl. 251-21) This invention relates to valves and particularly to flush valves.

Valves arranged to provide a preselected quantity of flush water directly from a supply conduit to a toilet or urinal are widely used, as where heavy service requirements are encountered. Thus, such flush valves may be utilized in public washrooms, industrial and ofiice Washrooms, and the like where the ush valves are susceptible to abuse such as from vandals. Illustratively, such ush valves are conventionally provided with adjustable means for regulating the duration of the ush. Such adjustable means often are tampered with by vandals and the like resulting in improper flushing. Further, such flush valves are conventionally operated by means of an operating handle. In certain known ush valves of this type, maintained depression of the handle effects a maintained continuous flush permitting vandals and the like to effect improper continuous water flow.

The present invention comprehends a new and improved ush valve which eliminates the above-discussed disadvantages of the known flush valves. Thus, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved flush Valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved Vandal-proof ush Valve.

A Ifurther object is to provide such a flush valve including new and improved means to preclude continuous flushing notwithstanding the maintained depression of the operating handle thereof.

Still another object is to provide such a flush valve including means inaccessible to unauthorized persons for accurately controlling the duration of the flush effected by the operation of the valve.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a flush valve which is simple and economical in structure, and which is relatively small, permitting facilitated installation in sanitation systems such as toilet and urinal installations.

Other `features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diametric section of a flush value embodying the invention, a portion of the operating handle being broken away to facilitate illustration thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary diametric section thereof illustrating the arrangement of the valve at a maximumopen condition in the operation thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a diametric section thereof illustrating the arrangement of the valve upon a completion of a flash cycle, the control valve thereof being arranged to permit the closing of the valve notwithstanding the maintained disposition of the operating handle element in the operating position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary diametric section of the control valve thereof; and

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a flush Valve generally designated lil is shown to comprise a housing 11 defining a chamber 12 having an inlet 13- and an outlet 14. An annular valve seat 15 is provided in the housing circumjacent the outlet 14 and a flexible diaphragm 16 extends. across the chamber 12 transversely to the axis of the valve seat 15, the diaphragm being provided with a seating portion 17 selectively engageable with the valve seat 15 Ifor selectively precluding and permitting fluid ilow from the inlet 13 to the outlet 14. The housing includes a cap 1S defining the upper boundary of chamber 12, diaphragm 16 dividing the chamber 12 into a main portion 19 communicating ldirectly with inlet 13, and a control portion 2l) within the cap 18. The diaphragm seating portion 17 defines a central opening 21 through which extends a control valve 22 including a stem 23 cooperating with an actuating member 24 associated with the operating handle 25 of the valve. The control valve 22 normally closes the diaphragm opening 21 by virtue of its weight and the fluid pressure in chamber portion 20 which is delivered thereto through an orifice device 26 extending through diaphragm 16 to provide communication between chamber portion 19 and chamber portion 20 at all times. When the actuating member 24, however, is moved inwardly as by operation of handle 25, the control valve stern 23 is moved to the left as seen in FIGURE 1 thereby pivoting the control valve and allowing the water in chamber portion 20 to pass downwardly therefrom into outlet 14 thereby relieving the pressure in chamber 20 and permitting the diaphragm to be urged upwardly by the liuid pressure in chamber 19 to the position of FIGURE 2. Water under pressure is thusly delivered through outlet 14 until the fluid pressure in chamber 20 once again builds up to move the diaphragm downwardly to the position of FIGURE 3 'wherein -seating portion 17 reengages seat 15 to close the valve.

More specifically, inlet 13 is defined by an internally threaded annular portion 27 of housing 11 receiving a complementary threaded sleeve 28 provided with a securing ring 29 lfor connecting a suitable conduit (not shown) carrying water under pressure to the valve 10. Outlet 14 is defined by an eXteriorly threaded annular portion 30 for connection to a suitable conduit (not shown) :for delivery of the water to the device to be flushed. Valve seat 15 comprises the upper end of a tubular extension 31 of the housing 11 whereby the valve seat is positioned slightly subjacent the upper horizontal plane of an annular portion 32 of the housing 11 exteriorly threaded to have a depending annular, internally threaded portion 33 of cap 18 secured thereto. The peripheral annular portion 34 of diaphragm 16 is enlarged and provided with a reinforcing ring 35, the portion 34 being sealingly engaged with the housing portion 32 by means of an annular shoulder 36 acting through a washer 3'7 to urge the diaphragm portion 34 downwardly against the housing portion 32 when the cap 18 is fully threaded thereonto.

Actuating member 24 comprises a cylindrical rod having a tip 37 normally having a small clearance with valve stem 23. The rod extends outwardly from outlet 14 through an opening 38 in housing 11 which opens into 1a recess 39. An annular retainer 40 is threadedly secured to the housing circumjacent the recess 39 and is provided with an outer inturned flange 41 against which an annular enlargement 42 on handle 25 is urged by means of a coil spring 43. Spring 43 extends coaxially of actuating member 24 between a retainer 44 seated on an annular body of packing material 45 at the inner end of the recess, and a fiange 46 secured to the outer end of the actuating member. Extending outwardly from flange 46 is a short cylindrical projection 47 facially engaging the inner end of handle 25. Thus, when handle 25 is displaced angularly from its position of coaxial alignment with actuating member 24, the end portion 42 of the handle is pivoted on the inturned ilange 41 of the member 40 thus urging the liange 46 inwardly to move the actuating member 24 axially inwardly to the dotted position of FIGURE 1. release of the handle 25, spring 43, acting through flange 46, urges portion 42 of the handle against the flange 41 Uponthereby restoring the handle to the coaxial relationship with actuating member 24 as shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 3 through 5, control valve 22 comprises a mushroom-shaped head 4S having an axial bore 49 therethrough. A tubular guide extension 50 is threadedly secured to the lower end of the head 48 and is provided with an axial bore 51 dened by an upper portion 52 having a hexagonal cross section, a lower portion 53 having a circular cross section, and a radial shoulder 54 between bore portions '52 and 53. As best seen in FIGURE 4, the upper end of the extension 50 defines an upwardly facing radial shoulder 55 limiting downward movement through head 56 of a screw 57 coaxially threaded to the upper end 58 of the stern 23. The screw head may be provided with an annular groove 59 carrying an O-ring 6i) for slidably sealing the screw to the control valve head 48 in bore 49. The upper end of the screw head is provided with a screwdriver slot 61 permitting rotational adjustment of the screw 57 by means of a screwdriver (not shown) extended through the upper end of the bore 49. The upper end of the stem 23 is provided with a hexagonal collar 62 cooperating with the walls of the hexagonal bore Iportion 51 of extension 5t) to prevent rotation of the stem 23 while permitting ready vertical movement thereof. Thus the rotation of screw 57 effects a vertical adjustment of the stem 23 relative to the extension 50 whereby the amount of upward movement of the diaphragm 16 to carry the lower end 63 of the stern 23 above the actuating member 24, as shown in FIG- URE 2, may be varied.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURE 2, the enlarged upper end 64 of the control valve head 4S seats on an annular valve seat 65 defined by a pair of threadedly connected rings 66 and 67 and an annular resilient seat element 68 covering the upper ring 66. Element 68 and rings 66 and 67 cooperatively define a ilow passage 69 extending between chamber portion Ztl and outlet 14 coaxially Within the diaphragm opening 21, which ow passage is controlled by the control valve 22. The lower ring 67 may be provided with a depending tubular guard 76 extending downwardly to `adjacent the lower end of extension 50 directing the flow of water from chamber portion 19 to outlet 14 away from the control valve 22.

Thus, control valve 22 effectively comprises a pilot adjustably regulating the duration of the ush effected by valve 10. The stem 23 effectively comprises a control device for cooperation with actuating member 24 to control the seating engagement of the control valve head 64 with the valve seat 65. More specifically, the operation of valve is as follows. Normally, the valve is arranged as shown in full lines in FIGURE l with water under pressure in chamber portion urging the diaphragm 16 into seating engagement with the valve seat 15, the pressure within chamber 20 being maintained by virtue of the communication thereof with inlet 13 through oriiice 26.

When the operating handle is manipulated, as discussed above, to move the actuating member 24 axially inwardly, the end portion 37 of the actuating member bears against the lower end of the stern 23 and pivots the head portion 64 of the control valve on the valve seat 65. This cracking open of the control valve immediately releases the pressure in chamber portion 20 whereby the diaphragm is urged upwardly to the position of FIGURE 2, the water from chamber portion 26 passing downwardly through the ilow passage 69 to outlet 14. When the control valve reaches the position of FIGURE 2, the clearance of .the lower end 63 with the inner end of the actuating member 24 permits the control valve to move back to its vertical position closing the ow passage 69. The pressure of the water in chamber portion 19 causes a ilow from chamber portion 19 through vaperture device 26 to chamber portion 20 whereby the pressure in chamber portion 20 is restored, urging the diaphragm to the seated position across valve seat 15. Should the operating handle remain depressed, the actuating member remains in the innermost position as shown in FIGURE 3. However, as the screw 57 and stem 23 are axially movable relative to the control valve portions 48 and 5G, control valve head 64 and diaphragm 16 may move back to the seated arrangement of FIGURE 3 while the valve stem remains in engagement with the actuating member 24. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 3, the ilush valve 10 is automatically and positively closed notwithstanding an attempt to maintain the ilow, as by a person improperly retaining the handle in the operating position. As the water pressure in chamber portion 2t) is acting downwardly on the upper end of screw head 56, the valve stem 23 is urged downwardly thereby assuring a return of the valve stem to the full line position of FIGURE l upon release of the handle 25.

The duration of the ush is controlled by the amount of time necessary to restore the diaphragm from the uppermost position thereof to the seated position of FIG- URE 3. As the upward movement of the diaphragm is controlled by the movement of the stem from the angled position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1 to the vertical position shown in FIGURE 2, the duration of the ilush may be accurately controlled by regulating the projection of the stem 23 downwardly from the valve member 48. As discussed briefly above, this adjustment is readily effected by means of a screwdriver extended through the bore 49 to engage the slot 61 in the screw 57. As the cap 16 closes the chamber portion 20, accessibility to the screw is eieetively precluded to vandals and the like.

The simple structure of valve 1i) permits improved economy in manufacture and assures long trouble-free life. The small size of the valve provides improved facility in installation of the valve in the sanitation system. By eiiectivcly precluding vandalistic improper operation and adjustment of the valve, consistent, accurately predetermined ilushing operations may be effected therewith.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A flush valve comprising: a housing defining a chamber, an inlet for iiuid llow into the chamber and an outlet for lluid flow from the chamber; 'an annular valve seat circumjacent the outlet; a diaphragm extending across the chamber transversely to the axis of the valve seat and having -a central opening and a seating portion selectively engageable with the valve seat for precluding fluid llow from the inlet to the outlet, saidI diaphragm dividing the chamber into a main portion communicating directly with the inlet, and a control portion; means providing restricted communication between said chamber portions permitting fluid to flow at a low rate from the main portion to the control portion; a pilot carried by the diaphragm including a valve selectively closing the opening in the diaphragm and a stem extending from the valve axially into said outlet, said pilot including a bore extending through the valve and stern to open at one end into said control chamber portion and at an opposite end into the outlet; a control device including a member having one portion axially movable in said bore andl a second portion projecting outwardly therefrom into said outlet, said control device and pilot including cooperating stop means limiting the outward movement of the control device, said control device including a screw threaded coaxially to the inner end of said member, the head of the yscrew being accessible `through the portion of the pilot bore opening into the control chamber for rotating the screw, said member and pilot having cooperating means precluding rotation of the member about its axis in the bore cooperating with said screw for varying selectively the projection of said second portion of the control device member from the pilot; and an actuator movable transaxially to said second portion of the control device -to move the stern laterally and pivot the valve on the diaphragm thereby permitting fluid ow from the control chamber to the outlet and allow pressure of the uid in the main chamber portion to move said seating portion of the diaphragm away from the valve seat and permit fluid flow from said main chamber portion to the outlet, the diaphragm being movable suiiiciently to reposition the second portion of the control device member relative to the actuator permitting the valve to reclose the opening in the diaphragm.

2. A flush valve comprising: `a housing defining a chamber, an inlet for fluid ow into the chamber and an outlet for fluid flow from the chamber; an annular valve seat circumjacent the outlet; a diaphragm extending across the chamber transversely to the axis of the valve seat and having a central opening and a seating portion selectively engageable with -the valve seat for precluding iiuid flow from the inlet rto the outlet, said diaphragm dividing the chamber into a main portion communicating directly with the inlet, and a control po-rtion; means providing restricted communication between said chamber portions permitting fluid to ow at a low rate from the main portion to the control portion; a pilot carried by the diaphragm including a valve selectively closing the opening in the diaphragm and a stem extending from the valve axially into said outlet, said pilot including a bore extending through the valve and stem to open at one end into said control chamber portion andat an opposite end into the outlet; a control device including a member having one portion axially movable in said bore and a second portion projecting outwardly therefrom into said outlet, said control device and pilot including cooperating stop means limiting the outward movement of the control device, said control device including a screw threaded coaxially to the inner end of said member, the head of the screw being accessible through the portion of the pilot bore opening into the control chamber for rotating the screw, said member and pilot having cooperating means precluding rotation of the member about its axis in the bore cooperating with said screw for varying selectively the projection of said second portion of the control device member from the pilot and annular means in the pilot bore concentrically of the screw sealing the screw axially movably to the pilot for precluding fluid flow between said chamber portions through said bore; and an actuator movable transaxially to said second portion of the control device to move the stem laterally and pivot the valve on the diaphragm thereby permitting fluid flow from vthe control chamber to the outlet and allow pressure of the iiuid in the main chamber portion to move said seating portion of the diaphragm away from the valve seat and permit fluid flow from said main chamber portion 'to the outlet, the diaphragm being movable sufficiently to reposition the second portion of the control device member relative to the actuator permitting the valve -to reclose the opening in the diaphragm.

3. The flush valve of claim 2 wherein said sealing means comprises an O-ring carried on the screw adjacent the head thereof.

4. A llush valve comprising: a housing defining a chamber, an inlet for fluid liow into the chamber and an outlet for uid flow from the chamber; an annular valve seat circumjacent the outlet; a diaphragm extending across the chamber transversely to the axis of the valve seat and having a central opening and a seating portion selectively engageable with the valve seat for precluding fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet, said diaphragm dividing the chamber into a main portion communicating directly with the inlet, and a control portion; means providing restricted communication `between said chamber portions permitting fluid to ow at a low rate from the main portion to the control portion; a pilot carried by the diaphragm including a valve selectively closing the opening in the diaphragm and a stem extending from the valve axially into said outlet, said pilot including a bore extending through the valve and stern to open at one end into said control chamber portion and at an opposite end into the outlet; a control device including a member having one portion axially movable in said bore and a second portion projecting outwardly therefrom into said outlet, said control device and pilot including cooperating stop means limiting the outward movement of the control device, said control device lincluding a screw threaded coaxially to the inner portion of said control device member, said inner portion of the control `device member and said pilot bore having complementary non-circular cross-sections precluding rotation of the member about its axis in the bore and cooperating with said screw for varying selectively the projection of said second portion of the control device member from the pilot; and an actuator movable transaxially to said second portion of the control Vdevice to move the stem laterally and pivot the valve on the diaphragm thereby permitting fluid ow from the control chamber to the outlet and allow pressure of the fluid in -the main chamber portion to move said seating portion of the diaphragm away from the valve seat and permit fluid flow from said main chamber portion to the outlet, the `diaphragm being movable sufficiently to reposition the second portion of the control device member relative to the actuator permitting the valve to reclose the opening in the diaphragm.

5. A flush valve comprising: a housing defining a chamber, an inlet for iluid flow into the chamber and an outlet for fluid flow from the chamber, an annular valve seat circumjacent the outlet; a diaphragm extending across the chamber transversely to the axis of the valve seat and having a central opening and a seating portion selectively engageable with the valve seat for precluding fluid ow from the inlet to the outlet, said diaphragm dividing the chamber into a main portion communicating directly with the inlet, and a control portion; means providing restricted communication between said chamber portions permitting Huid to flow at a low rate from the main portion to the control portion; a pilot carried by the diaphragm including a valve selectively closing the opening in the diaphragm and a stem extending from the valve axially into said outlet, said pilot including a bore extending through the valve and stem to open at one end into said control chamber portion and at an opposite end into the outlet and including an axially inwardly facing shoulder; a control device including a member having one portion axially movable in said bore and a second portion projecting outwardly therefrom into said outlet, said control device including a Screw threaded coaxially to the inner end of said member and having a head being arranged to engage said bore shoulder to limit the outward movement of the control device relative to the pilot for limiting selectively the projection of said second portion of the control device member from the pilot, said pilot stem and said one portion of the control device member having cooperating means for preventing rotation of the control device member about the pilot bore axis, said screw head being accessible from the control portion of said chamber for adjusting the extent that the screw is threaded into said member; and an actuator movable transaxially to said second portion of the control device to move the stern laterally and pivot the valve on the diaphragm thereby permitting fluid flow from the control chamber to the outlet and allow pressure of the fluid in the main chamber portion to move Said seating portion of the `diaphragm away from the valve seat and permit fluid flow from said main chamber portion to the outlet, the diaphragm being movable sufciently to reposition the second portion of the control device member relative to the actuator permitting the valve to reclose the opening in the diaphragm.

6. A flush valve comprising: a housing defining a chamber, an inlet for fluid flow into the chamber and an outlet for iluid fiow from the chamber, an annular valve seat circumjacent the outlet; a diaphragm extending across the chamber transversely to the axis of the valve seat and having a central opening and a seating portion selectively engageable with the valve seat for precluding fluid fiow from the inlet to the outlet, said diaphragm dividing the chamber into a main portion communicating directly with the inlet, and a control portion; means providing restricted communication between said chamber portions permitting fiuid to flow at a low rate from the main portion to the control portion; a pilot carried by the diaphragm including a valve selecively closing the opening in the diaphragm and a stem extending from the valve axially into said outlet, said pilot including a bore extending through the valve and stem to open at one end into said control chamber portion and at au opposite end into the outlet and including an axially inwardly facing shoulder; a control device including a member having one portion axially movable in said bore and a second portion projecting outwardly therefrom into said outlet, said control device including a screw threaded coaxially to the inner end of said member and having a head being arranged to engage said bore shoulder to limit the outward movement of the control device relative to the pilot for limiting selectively the projection of said second portion of the control device member from the pilot; and an actuator movable transaXially to said second portion of the control device to move the stem laterally and pivot the valve on the diaphragm thereby permitting fiuid ow from the control chamber to the outlet and allow pressure of the fluid in the main chamber portion to move said seating portion of the diaphragm away from the valve seat and permit fiuid flow from said main chamber portion to the outlet, the diaphragm being movable sufficiently to reposition the second portion of the control device member relative to the actuator permitting the valve to reclcse the opening in the diaphragm, said pilot stem including a first portion extending from the valve and an extension portion threadedly secured to the first portion and having an inner end defining said shoulder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,038,135 Sloan Apr. 2l, 1936 2,066,086 Wilson Dec. 29, 1936 2,734,712 Fraser Feb. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 410,944 Great Britain May 3l, 1934 

1. A FLUSH VALVE COMPRISING: A HOUSING DEFINING A CHAMBER, AN INLET FOR FLUID FLOW INTO THE CHAMBER AND AN OUTLET FOR FLUID FLOW FROM THE CHAMBER; AN ANNULAR VALVE SEAT CIRCUMJACENT THE OUTLET; A DIAPHRAGM EXTENDING ACROSS THE CHAMBER TRANSVERSELY TO THE AXIS OF THE VALVE SEAT AND HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING AND A SEATING PORTION SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE VALVE SEAT FOR PRECLUDING FLUID FLOW FROM THE INLET TO THE OUTLET, SAID DIAPHRAGM DIVIDING THE CHAMBER INTO A MAIN PORTION COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH THE INLET, AND A CONTROL PORTION; MEANS PROVIDING RESTRICTED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CHAMBER PORTIONS PERMITTING FLUID TO FLOW AT A LOW RATE FROM THE MAIN PORTION TO THE CONTROL PORTION; A PILOT CARRIED BY THE DIAPHRAGM INCLUDING A VALVE SELECTIVELY CLOSING THE OPENING IN THE DIAPHRAGM AND A STEM EXTENDING FROM THE VALVE AXIALLY INTO SAID OUTLET, SAID PILOT INCLUDING A BORE EXTENDING THROUGH THE VALVE AND STEM TO OPEN AT ONE END INTO SAID CONTROL CHAMBER PORTION AND AT AN OPPOSITE END INTO THE OUTLET; A CONTROL DEVICE INCLUDING A MEMBER HAVING ONE PORTION AXIALLY MOVABLE IN SAID BORE AND A SECOND PORTION PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM INTO SAID OUTLET, SAID CONTROL DEVICE AND PILOT INCLUDING COOPERATING STOP MEANS LIMITING THE OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CONTROL DEVICE, SAID CONTROL DEVICE INCLUDING A SCREW THREADED COAXIALLY TO THE INNER END OF SAID MEMBER, THE HEAD OF THE SCREW BEING ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE PORTION OF THE PILOT BORE OPENING INTO THE CONTROL CHAMBER FOR ROTATING THE SCREW, SAID MEMBER AND PILOT HAVING COOPERATING MEANS PRECLUDING ROTATION OF THE MEMBER ABOUT ITS AXIS IN THE BORE COOPERATING WITH SAID SCREW FOR VARYING SELECTIVELY THE PROJECTION OF SAID SECOND PORTION OF THE CONTROL DEVICE MEMBER FROM THE PILOT; AND AN ACTUATOR MOVABLE TRANSAXIALLY TO SAID SECOND PORTION OF THE CONTROL DEVICE TO MOVE THE STEM LATERALLY AND PIVOT THE VALVE ON THE DIAPHRAGM THEREBY PERMITTING FLUID FLOW FROM THE CONTROL CHAMBER TO THE OUTLET AND ALLOW PRESSURE OF THE FLUID IN THE MAIN CHAMBER PORTION TO MOVE SAID SEATING PORTION OF THE DIAPHRAGM AWAY FROM THE VALVE SEAT AND PERMIT FLUID FLOW FROM SAID MAIN CHAMBER PORTION TO THE OUTLET, THE DIAPHRAGM BEING MOVABLE SUFFICIENTLY TO REPOSITION THE SECOND PORTION OF THE CONTROL DEVICE MEMBER RELATIVE TO THE ACTUATOR PERMITTING THE VALVE TO RECLOSE THE OPENING IN THE DIAPHRAGM. 